Dubai South Area Guide 2026
Dubai South is the master-planned city around Al Maktoum International Airport and Expo City, a large, affordable, fast-growing district positioned as the future of ‘new Dubai’. With low entry prices and some of the highest yields in the city (up to ~9%), it is a favourite of value and yield investors betting on long-term growth.
Registered sale prices
Dubai Land Department registered transactions, not advertised asking prices.
| Registered residential sales in the period | 984 |
| Median registered price | AED 779,377 |
| Middle half of the market | AED 637,735 to AED 1,296,916 |
| Median price per sq ft | AED 1,638 |
| Median unit size | 632 sq ft |
| Share bought off plan | 93% |
| Ready stock, median price per sq ft | AED 1,087 from 65 sales |
| Off plan stock, median price per sq ft | AED 1,654 from 919 sales |
By bedroom count
| Type | Sales | Median price | Per sq ft | Median size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 475 | AED 639,000 | AED 1,728 | 361 sq ft |
| 1 B/R | 268 | AED 1,130,760 | AED 1,560 | 726 sq ft |
| 2 B/R | 151 | AED 1,795,598 | AED 1,394 | 1,130 sq ft |
| 3 B/R | 29 | AED 2,556,360 | AED 1,493 | 1,676 sq ft |
| 4 B/R | 36 | AED 4,725,000 | AED 1,302 | 3,400 sq ft |
| 5 B/R | 25 | AED 6,150,000 | AED 1,476 | 4,023 sq ft |
Source: Dubai Land Department open data. Registered sales of residential units between 1 September 2026 and 11 October 2026. Mortgages and gift transfers are excluded because they are not arms length sales. Sizes are converted from square metres at 10.7639 sq ft per sq m. These are prices buyers actually registered, which is not the same as the asking prices advertised on portals.
| Live Cresco listings | 44 |
| Listings showing a price | 34 |
| Median entry price advertised | AED 1,850,000 |
Source: Cresco Real Estate live listings, rebuilt 4 November 2026. These are advertised entry prices, meaning the lowest price currently quoted on each listing. Many off plan listings quote a starting price rather than a price for a specific unit, so we do not publish an advertised price per square foot from this data. For price per square foot use the registered Dubai Land Department figures above, which come from completed sales.
Living in Dubai South
Dubai South is a purpose-built city taking shape around the Al Maktoum Airport and the Expo City legacy site, affordable apartments and family townhouses, parks and growing retail, master-planned from scratch. It is calm, spacious and value-driven. The trade-off is that it is still emerging and sits well outside the established centre, so amenities are maturing and a car is essential.
Getting around
- Airports: on the doorstep of Al Maktoum (DWC) and connected to the wider network via Emirates Road and Sheikh Zayed Road.
- Metro: served by the Expo/Route 2020 extension; roughly 35 to 40 minutes to Downtown by car.
Schools & families
Family infrastructure is growing with the masterplan, with schools and nurseries arriving across Dubai South and Expo City. Affordable townhouses and parks make it an increasingly popular value choice for families willing to trade central location for space and price.
Shopping, dining & lifestyle
- Expo City, retail, dining, events and green space on the legacy Expo 2020 site next door.
- Community centres, everyday retail and dining rolling out across the district.
- The Outlet Village & Dubai Parks, a short drive along the highway.
The investor view
Dubai South is a value-and-yield play on Dubai’s future hub. Apartments start affordably and yield up to ~9%, with the long-term upside of the Al Maktoum Airport expansion, planned to become the world’s largest, and Expo City on the doorstep.
What it earns, from the tenancy register
These are not estimates. Over the last twelve months 5,845 tenancy contracts were registered with the Dubai Land Department in Dubai South, at an average of AED 59,190 a year, which is AED 78 per square foot. Registered rents moved +7.9% against the twelve months before.
| Unit type | Contracts registered | Average annual rent (AED) | Rent per sqft (AED) | Change vs 12 months earlier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 1,376 | 40,196 | 95 | +9.2 |
| 1 bedroom | 2,408 | 50,388 | 82 | +6.6 |
| 2 bedroom | 1,768 | 78,796 | 66 | +11.0 |
| 3 bedroom | 293 | 102,421 | 50 | +6.4 |
| All apartments | 5,845 | 59,190 | 78 | +7.9 |
Check the shorter window before you commit. On the most recent three months of contracts the same community reads +0.0%. Summer seasonality and a smaller sample both sit inside that figure, and we publish it rather than quote only the number that flatters the market.
Data verified 27 September 2026. Dubai Land Department registered transactions via Bayut TruView, rolling 12 months to September 2026.
Who should buy here
Dubai South suits yield and value investors, and buyers with a long horizon who want to enter Dubai’s future hub early and cheaply. If you want a central location or prestige today, look elsewhere; if you want the highest yields and the biggest long-term infrastructure story at the lowest entry, Dubai South is the play.
Property types & buildings
A mix of affordable apartments and townhouses (studios to 4-bed) across Emaar South and the wider Dubai South masterplan, much of it newer or off-plan. Apartments deliver the top yields; townhouses offer family space and value. As a maturing district, the specific community and handover phase matter to the return.
✓ Strengths
- Among the highest yields in Dubai (up to ~9%)
- Lowest entry prices of any major district
- Al Maktoum Airport and Expo City on the doorstep
- Strong long-term growth story
- New, well-planned communities
△ Trade-offs
- Far from the city centre (~35 to 40 min)
- Still emerging, amenities maturing
- Car-dependent
- A long-horizon infrastructure bet
- Less prestige and liquidity than prime areas
Free Dubai South area guide (PDF)
Prices by bedroom, ready vs off-plan, where buyers bought and price bands. Built from Dubai Land Department sales, 1 September to 11 October 2026.
Dubai South FAQs
- Is Dubai South a good investment in 2026?
- Yes, for yield and long-term growth. Apartments yield up to ~9% at the lowest entry prices of any major district, with the Al Maktoum Airport expansion and Expo City underpinning long-term upside.
- How much does property in Dubai South cost?
- Apartments run about AED 1,638 per sqft, the median of Dubai Land Department registered sales: studios ~AED 400K, 800K, 1-beds ~AED 570K, 1.26M and 2-beds ~AED 900K, 1.96M. Townhouses run roughly AED 1.8M, 4.8M.
- What rent and yield does Dubai South offer?
- Gross yields run about 6 to 9%, highest on studios and 1-beds. Median rents are around AED 45K for a studio, AED 65K for a 1-bed and AED 90K for a 2-bed.
- How far is Dubai South from the city?
- Roughly 35 to 40 minutes to Downtown by car, but on the doorstep of Al Maktoum (DWC) Airport and Expo City, with Metro access via the Route 2020 extension.
- Why invest in Dubai South?
- Low entry prices, top-tier yields and a long-term growth story anchored by the world’s planned largest airport and the Expo City legacy district.
Thinking about Dubai South?
Dubai South is a yield-and-growth play where community and handover phase matter. Cresco tracks every release, tell us your budget and goal and we’ll shortlist the right options.
Talk to a Dubai South specialistFigures are indicative 2026 market ranges compiled from public sources and vary by building, view, cluster and configuration; they are a guide, not a valuation. Updated 5 August 2026.
Looking for the full list? Browse every property Cresco has for sale in the UAE, all 712 listings indexed by emirate and community.
Property for sale in Dubai South
Current Cresco listings in Dubai South. Every one is handled by a RERA registered consultant.
- SAMANA South Haven 2 by SAMANA Developers | Dubai South Apartments
- Tessera by Al Ghurair Development | Dubai South from AED 2.1M
- Golf Fields at Emaar South
- Grove Ridge at Emaar South
- Vista Ridge at Emaar South
- Golf Vale at Emaar South
- Terra Gardens at Expo Living
- Terra Woods at Expo Living
See every Cresco listing or speak to a consultant about Dubai South.
Dubai South questions, answered
What rental yield can I expect in Dubai South?
Gross yields in Dubai South run at about 6 to 9%. Gross is the headline figure. Your net return will be lower once service charges, agency fees, maintenance and void periods come out. Work out your own number with the Cresco rental yield and ROI calculator.
Can a foreigner buy property in Dubai South?
Yes. Dubai South is a designated freehold area in Dubai, so buyers of any nationality can own the property outright and hold the title deed in their own name. You do not need UAE residency to buy, and there is no restriction on selling it later. The full process is set out in our guide to buying property in Dubai.
How far is Dubai South from Downtown Dubai and the airport?
From Dubai South, Downtown Dubai is about ~35 to 40 min away by car outside peak hours. Morning and evening traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road can add a fair amount to both.
What type of property is available in Dubai South?
Dubai South is mainly apts & townhouses. It suits yield and growth in particular. You can see the 53 Cresco listings in Dubai South further up this page.
Projects in Dubai South on Cresco
- SAMANA South Haven 2 by SAMANA Developers
- Tessera by Al Ghurair Development
- Golf Fields at Emaar South
- Grove Ridge at Emaar South
- Vista Ridge at Emaar South
- Golf Vale at Emaar South
- Terra Gardens at Expo Living
- Terra Woods at Expo Living
- Hayat by Dubai South
- ENRE Residence by Imtiaz
- Avenew 888 at Dubai South
- Modo at Avenew 888
See every project we cover on the Dubai South properties page. Work out the total cost with our Dubai property buying calculator.